Dam Failure Loss-of-Life Consequences

Since 1850, there have been 63 known dam failure events (exclusive of tailings dams) that have involved fatalities.

Database Summary
The following table provides a summary of the NPDP dataset on fatalities related to dam failures.

Summary of the Dam Failure-Fatality Dataseta

Parameter/Summary

Value(s)

Period of Record

1850-2016

Number of Years of Record

167

Number of Dam Failures Resulting in Fatalities

63b

Frequency of Occurrence per Year of Dam Failure Events in which there were Fatalitiesc

0.38

Range on the Number of Fatalities that Occurred as a Result of a Dam Failure

1-2,209d

Total Number of Fatalities that Over the Period of Record (A range is shown based on the variation in the estimates of the number of fatalities that occurred)

3,432 -3,736

Average Number of Fatalities perYear Over the Period of Recorde

20.6 - 22.4

a The dataset is based on information provided in Graham(1999), McClelland and Bowles(2002), the US Bureau of Reclamation(2014), and the NPDP archives. The dataset does not include fatalities associated with tailings dams. The NPDP database does not have a complete list of events involving tailings dams.b The Staffordville Reservoir failure in 1877 is not included in this value. Documentation of this failure indicates fatalities did occur, however, there is no information on how many (Jorgenson 1920)c This is simply the number of events divided by the number of years in the record.d This is the range on the number of fatalities that have occurred.e Calculated as the total number of fatalities divided by the number of years of record. The range of calues reflects the differences in the estimated number of fatalities in the historic record.

Map Showing the Location of Dam Failures Involving Fatalities in the U.S.

Timeline of Fatal Dam Failure Events
The figure below Shows a timeline of the number of fatalities that have occurred in the U.S. during dam failure events.

This figure shows a timeline of the number of dam failures and the number of dam failures that have involved fatalities in the U.S. Approximately 4% of dam failures in the U.S. have involved fatalities.

Number of Fatalities
The number of fatalities that do/do not occur during a dam failure is a function of a number of factors. These include (but are not limited to):